Strategic National Stockpile

The
Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) is a federal program that was established in 1999 by Congress; it is administered, owned and maintained by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). The SNS contains large quantities of medicine and medical supplies to protect the American public if there is an emergency severe enough to cause local resources to run out. Supplies and technical assistance reach an affected area quickly, safely and they are well organized. The overwhelmed jurisdiction does not pay for SNS assets.

If a public health incident is severe enough, it may trigger the procedure for requesting SNS assets. In many public health situations, the requisition will be for preventive medication or vaccine (also called “prophylaxis”). Using a mass dispensing or vaccination strategy, prophylaxis may be given out at “Points of Dispensing (PODs)” to those who need it.

PODs are categorized as open (for members of the public) or closed (for pre-designated groups). More information on PODs can be found in the next section of this book. Agencies (e.g. hospitals, fire, police, long-term care, etc.) needing a quantity of SNS supplies to respond to an incident will request them from the LHD. Any agency wishing to act as a POD needs to consult the LHD in advance. In addition to planning guidance, the LHD will give the agency specific instructions for picking up emergency medication/supplies.